Saturday, May 17, 2008
Danville police are investigating a suspicious death
DANVILLE – A man was found dead on the porch of a home in Danville Friday afternoon…the cause of death is not known. Around 9a.m., a neighbor found the body of 22-year-old Jay Doebler, of Danville. The Montour County Coroner’s office was on the scene and listed the cause of Doebler’s death as ‘undetermined.'
The home at the intersection of Grove Court and East Mahoning Street was the scene of drug bust last year, when heroin charges were filed against Jennifer Hunt. She lived there at the time. Neighbors said the drug activities seemed to subside after the arrest. The Coroner's Office tells WKOK that an autopsy will be conducted on the body of Jay Doebler.
Man who allegedly kidnaps mother, faces new charges after her death
MOUNT CARMEL— A Mount Carmel man is facing involuntary manslaughter charges after allegedly kidnapping his mother from a nursing home. Reports say 58-year-old, Robert Netchel, faces the new charges after the death of his mother, 83-year-old, Ruth Ann Netchel. Ruth Ann’s death occurred when Netchel allegedly took her unwillingly from the Schuylkill Center Nursing home last month. Netchel was arraigned Friday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 23rd. Along with the new charges of involuntary manslaughter, he also faces felony counts of aggravated assault and kidnapping.
Recreation coordinator hired by LARA
LEWISBURG – The Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority will kick off the summer season with a recreation coordinator. LARA reports Caley Mincemoyer of Limestoneville began in the new position last week. Executive Director Angela Zimmerman says Mincemoyer will in charge of opening the community pool.
Additionally, she will be in charge of applying for grants, and developing programs for the Recreation Authority. She is a graduate of Warrior Run High School and Lock Haven University. The Community Pool will open May 24th at noon, and admission is free on the first day of the season. (Matt Farrand)
Recipients brave rain for food bank distribution
LEWISBURG – Recipients lined up well ahead of time to receive food from a local food bank Friday. Administrator Dave Heberlig of the Eastern Union County Supplemental Food Program also says about 50 additional clients were signed up to receive donations, topping the previous peak of 674 set in 2004. Heberlig says while local support for the food program remains strong, federal and state help is in decline.
Volunteers will be needed at distributions planned for June 6th, June 20th, the 3rd and 18th of July and both August 1st and 15th. Heberlig notes first time recipients will need to register, and can do so on the day of the distribution, at the First Baptist Church in Lewisburg More than a dozen recipient families were on hand in the rain Friday before the scheduled start time of 1:30 p.m. (Matt Farrand)
Thefts reported at Beavertown home damaged by fire
BEAVERTOWN – Police are searching for someone who took nearly $3,500 worth of items from a home that had recently been damaged by a fire. The home along Route 235 and Back Mountain Road in Beavertown sustained heavy damages during the fire on February 11th, and the homeowners then used a generator to heat the house.
A day later the outside generator was reported stolen. This month, an unknown suspect returned to the home and removed various tools, vehicles parts, chains and aluminum cans from the garage. Anyone with information on these thefts is asked to call Selinsgrove State Police. (Sara Bartlett)
Home invasion reported in Ralpho Township
ELYSBURG – Police are investigating a home invasion that happened Thursday in Ralpho Township. At 1:30p.m. a female rang the doorbell of a home along Turkey Hill Road. She then allegedly began to talk to the homeowner about landscaping, while a second female entered the residence through an unlocked backdoor.
The owner confronted the second female, who then fled the home. The first female also fled the scene. The owner described the suspects as two black females who drove away in a blue car. Nothing was reported taken from the home. Anyone with information about the incident should contact Ralpho Township Police at 672-9892. (Sara Bartlett)
Shoppers come out to Susquehanna Valley Growers’ Market
LEWISBURG – The Susquehanna Valley Growers’ Market in Lewisburg opened Friday and despite the wet weather people still came out to shop. Sellers set up stands with locally grown and organic products including meat, eggs, vegetables and cheeses. Lewisburg resident Judy Ellis braved the rain to pick up some meats and veggies. She says she and her husband Richard like to support the market and are big proponents of cage-free animals.
Michael Bitler, of Muncy, makes his own salsa and salts from homegrown ingredients. This is his second year at the Grower’s Market, but says the rising food prices this year have made things tough. He says this is the first year he has had to raise his prices because the cost of tomatoes has gone up.
The market, located in Hufnagle Park, also offers baked goods, crafts and flowers. It will be set up every Friday from noon-5:00p.m. until October 31st. For more information you can log onto http://growersmarket.blogspot.com. (Sara Bartlett)
Creating a learning experience for kids over the summer
SELINSGROVE – Elementary school students who struggle academically are getting some help over the summer at the Summer Seals Day Camp program. The goal is to further the learning of “at risk” students who have trouble in reading and math, as well as self-esteem or social development issues.
Dottie Anderson is the Board Secretary of the day camp and says what the students learn during the summer helps them into the next school year and beyond. Amy Melillo is one of the instructors and says they have integrated units to make the learning fun.
This year they will incorporate lessons about amusement parks, the Olympics and tropical rainforests. Twelve to fifteen students are in each class; with two teachers in the room to make sure each child gets individual attention. The camp is scheduled like a school day, with learning, physical activities, lunch and recess. It’s held at the Selinsgrove Intermediate School. (Sara Bartlett)
Felony charges dropped against Wilburton man
MOUNT CARMEL – Two felony counts have been dropped against a Wilburton man accused with having indecent contact with a 12-year-old girl. The News Item reports without evidence, the felony charges of indecent assault against 43-year-old Michael Stokes are dismissed.
Stokes is still being charged with two counts of criminal attempt and one count of corruption of minors, because District Justice Michael Mychak says there was an attempt by Stokes to have inappropriate contact with the girl.
Reports say the girl was sleeping May 2nd when Stokes allegedly entered her bedroom numerous times in the middle of the night. A witness in the house testified that when questioned about why he was in the girl’s room, Stokes tried to run out of the home. Stokes waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will have a pre-trial conference in August. (Sara Bartlett)
Free eye screening for those diagnosed with diabetes
DANVILLE – A free eye screening will be held at Geisinger Medical Center on Saturday for those diagnosed with diabetes. Dr. Herb Ingraham is the chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Geisinger and says some folks don’t have insurance, so they don’t get their eyes checked on a regular basis. He says early diagnosis of eye conditions can prevent blindness for diabetes patients.
The screening will be held in the main building at Geisinger from 8 to noon on Saturday. Treatments include medications and laser repair, which can prevent the retina from detaching, which takes place over the course of several years in diabetes patients. (Ali Stevens)
Peak oil and public health…the timely Roundtable this weekend
SUNBURY – Roundtable this weekend goes on the road to find out about Peak Oil and Public Health…. Peak oil is that point in our economy when oil is far less available and far more expensive. The impact on public health involves transportation, medicines, food, agriculture and every aspect of our lives.
Guests include, Samantha Pearson of the Local Action Network, Dr. Brian Schwartz of Johns Hopkins & Geisinger’s Environmental Health Institute and Mike Molesevich of Molesevich Environmental. We discuss the many ways we can conserve energy and why global issues are already arising because of peak oil, food shortages and global climate change.
You can hear Roundtable (Sunday) on Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m., 100.9, The Valley at 6a.m., Newsradio 1070 WKOK at 9a.m., Talkradio 1380 WMLP at 11a.m. and 94KX WQKX at 11p.m. You can hear the program anytime, at www.wkok.com.
Here is the latest Pennsylvania News from the Associated Press:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says Pennsylvania has begun one of the nation's most comprehensive programs to help people who suffer from chronic diseases. Rendell made the announcement Friday in a speech to the Pennsylvania Homecare Association in Harrisburg. He says the program is in place in southeastern Pennsylvania and will be expanded statewide over the next year. The program calls for educating patients about ways to improve their health, coordinating their care through teams of primary care
doctors and other health care professionals, and changing the way insurers reimburse health care providers for treatment. Rendell says improving primary care for chronic illness will help avoid more costly hospital care for people who suffer from conditions like diabetes and asthma. His administration estimates that treatment for chronic illnesses resulted in more than $4 billion in avoidable hospital charges last year.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - First-year Penn State students will have to take an online alcohol awareness course as part of a new program designed to combat high-risk drinking. The students would begin taking the preventative course called "AlcoholEdu for College" before arriving on campus. The program created by Boston-based Outside the Classroom is already used at more than 500 colleges around the country. But Penn State officials say implementation at Penn State will be the largest of its kind, being administered to the expected 17,000 first-year students this fall across the university system. School officials say there is limited but promising data that the program is working at other schools around the country.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State trustees have approved a new student fee to fund improvements for non-academic space. The student facilities fee will be phased in. Students at the University Park campus will pay $50 per semester starting this fall. The fee would rise to $100 per semester in 2009-10. Rates would vary at other Penn State campuses. The university says the fee would grow by no more than the increased rate of tuition in following years. The school says the fee will help support student-centered, non-academic projects. Some students have griped about the new fee. Tuition for resident freshmen and sophomores at University Park is more than $12,000 per year, while it's nearly twice that for out-of-state students.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - Lehigh University says it is getting its biggest gift ever. The Bethlehem school says the estate of alumnus Donald Stabler is giving $34.2 million. It will be used for scholarships.
EASTON, Pa. (AP) - A former Bethlehem woman will serve up to 23 months in prison for having her 7-year-old son dress as a Cub Scout to collect money for a nonexistent cause. Fifty-one-year-old Sally Ann Gombocz told a Northampton County judge she wanted to apologize to anyone she hurt.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Penn State coach Joe Paterno says he feels fine after going to the hospital this week to be treated for dehydration. The 81-year-old Paterno was in Austin on Friday, a day after his brief hospital visit in State College.
STATE COLLEGE – Penn State defensive tackle, Chris Baker was sentenced to two years’ probation yesterday after entering guilty pleas in two cases involving two separate fights. Baker pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of simple assault and criminal trespass, in connection with an off-campus at an apartment last year where two people were injured. Baker has been suspended from the team although coach Paterno recently let Baker start working out again with the squad.
LEWISBURG – The Bucknell bison baseball team picked up a Game one win in the best-of-three Patriot League Championship series against Navy. They pulled out a 7-6 win and continue the series today.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:
FRIDAY NIGHT
Daily Number
0-8-6
Big 4
9-8-7-5
FRIDAY MIDDAY
Daily Number
7-2-4
Big 4
0-9-8-4
Treasure Hunt
1-11-20-23-24
The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto"
game were:
9-18-27-31-44-45
The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game
were:
2-4-7-12-13
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)